The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-10-13
The President at Chicago.

The progress of the President ia continuous
ovation. He is met at every point by large as
sembages and enthusiastic welcomes. At Chi
cago fifty thousand people blocked all the APP
proaches to the depot, awaiting the arrival of the
train, and strong military force only availed
to make way for his carriage through the
eager multitude amid the deafening roar of con-
slant cheering. There was an evening reception
at the Columbia Theatre for which ten thousand
tickets were issued, each admitting gentleman
and ladies accompanying him, but the general
reception of the public was at the Palmer House
in the afternoon The associated press dispatch
thus describes it:
With one bursting, frantic cheer crashing
through the great rotunda mob of 100 900 peo-
pie rushed like wild beasts at President Cleve-
land and his wife this afternoon at the Palmer
House 1t was = reception TO the general public,
and the Chief Magistrate, with his radiant COM
panion, had just descended the main staircase
In vain did the police, clubs in hand, attempt to
stem the rush. The rope bearriers had been
swept away at the first onset. 1t was well that
a nook of safety had been provided for Mrs.
Cleveland. Immediately to the right of the stair
case was an alcove almost hidden in silken bunt-
ing and waving green plants Into this she was
speedily thrust, white the President, giving a
single sweeping glance at the surging crowd,
plunged into its midst and sturdily shouldered
himself by sheer strength into the place it had
been decided he should stand. Three times the
files of brawny dismounted cavalrymen seize the
ends of one of the ropes that had been dashed to
the floor, and strive to drag back the eager null
titude only with the aid of double Gordon of
police, the front line backing against the crowd
and the second rank pushing their blue coated
comrades forward, did the lasso man@uvre of the
col fol IF TkA
President was meanwhile shaking hands right
and left till he was red in the face and his collar
lay limp above his black Prince Albert coat.
WHERE MRS. CLEVELAND STOOD
Behind him and slightly to his right standing
at the entrance to the alcove, a couple Of steps
above tie crowd, was Mrs Cleveland, laughing
merrily at the Presidents plight and bowling
and smiling good -naturedly at the crowd. She
was surrounded by bevy of staid mstrons
richly dressed, but all in dark colors. In strik
ing contrast was Mrs. Cleveland's light sky blue
silk bodice and upon, trimmed with fieecv dot
ted lace q finger wide 10 match. Her glossy
pompadour cooled hair and fluffy bangs were
without ornament, but below glittered delicate
neck chain, and the lace that hung from her
shoulders was caught together at the line Of the
corsage with a magnificent rosette of diamonds.
Long mousquetaire gloves of tan, and slender
serpentne bracelets completed the costume.
Mrs. cleveland looked tn0 pcISO0IuCatitbu OF
youthful health and beauty as she stepped lit
tie nearer her husband, when the first appear
ance Of line had begun 10 be formed OF the
people At the head came a detachment of I'm
ion veterans bearing alOft tattered bullet riven
battle flag Of the Eleventh Kansas volunteers.
A striking scene ensued While the President
warmly greeted the old soldiers one after another
the color bearer stepped forward to Mrs. Cleve-
land and gently lowering the old flag babe her
clip off one of its prescious shreds as a memento
OF the day. The wife of the President grace
fully complied. aud while the spectators went
wild with enthusiasm, displayed her trophy
proudly to the ladies at her side, the President
shook hands with redoubled vigor and an actual
count at this juncture showed bis gait to be
forty-seven hand shakes per minute This rate
was kept up without intermission until the time
fixed Tor the reception TO end and not a person
in the line was missed. low estimate of the
number who passed him is 5000 persons. These
were fortunate few. Thousands in the cor
ridors and thousands upon thousands in the
streets failed to catch sight of his face. The ro-
tunda and halls Of the hotel, like the outside
thorougfares for blocks around had been taken
complete possession OF by the gigantic outpouring
of people, and an hour before the reception be-
San restraint of any kind seemed impossible
During the crush it is safe to say that many
as fifty women had to be borne from the throng
into stores near by, faintng from exhaustion.